PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

POG Solidarity Statement from St. Pete for Peace/St. Pete FNB
by St. Pete for Peace/St. Pete FNB Monday, Aug. 22, 2005 at 10:14 PM
carol@stpetefnb.org (email address validated) (727) 520-SPFP

St. Pete for Peace and St. Pete Food Not Bombs stand in solidarity with the Pittsburgh Organizing Group in support of members and participants in the Saturday, August 20 action against the Oakland Military Recruiting Station.

Solidarity Statement from:
St. Pete for Peace and St. Pete Food Not Bombs

St. Pete for Peace and St. Pete Food Not Bombs stand in solidarity with the Pittsburgh Organizing Group in support of members and participants in the Saturday, August 20 action against the Oakland Military Recruiting Station.

We condemn the actions of the Pittsburgh Police Department as yet another example of the use of brute force and domestic torture to counter non-violent acts of dissent. It is inconceivable to us that a 17 year old girl and a 68 year old grandmother, (among others injured in the police-induced riot), could be considered such a threat to the State that it feels justified in physically savaging them. And we have to wonder what kind of police force would tolerate such obvious violent and deviant behavior on the part of its employees.

We call for immediate dismissal of the officers who used Tasers, dogs and chemical weapons against those present at the demonstration. A reprimand is not sufficient…it is clear that these officers will not benefit from a “time out” suspension or an official scolding. If they are unable to see that placing an injured grandmother in a vehicle with no air-conditioning for 45 minutes is wrong, then no amount of corrective action will ensure that a repeat of August 20 will not occur. And while we are certain that the police department will issue a statement (if they have not done so already) to attempt to justify these actions, it is clearly an indefensible position. The use of Tasers and dogs to attack unarmed civilians is the hallmark of a fascist dictatorship, not a healthy democracy. Were intimidation tactics alone used to stifle dissent, this would have been bad enough, however the tactics of the Pittsburgh Police Department went far beyond mere intimidation - opting, instead, for assault.

We also call for the dismissal of charges against all arrested as a result of the August 20 demonstration and an immediate discontinuance of the use of Tasers and dogs, both at protest events and in other non life-threatening situations.

We congratulate the Pittsburgh Organizing Group and participants in the August 20 action for their courage, their strength and their commitment to peace and offer our mutual aid and support for their group as they work to rid their city of state-sponsored violence and oppression.

In solidarity
St. Pete for Peace http://www.stpeteforpeace.org
St. Pete Food Not Bombs http://www.stpetefnb.org

www.stpeteforpeace.org